Computer program product and program storage device for safing asynchronous interrupts

摘要

Processing of an asynchronous signal directed to a thread comprising a software routine executing in a computer system such that data consistency is maintained is discussed. Such processing proceeds by determining whether the routine is signal safe such that processing of the routine may be interrupted in order to process the signal without possibly causing inconsistency of data. The routine is asynchronously interrupted and the signal is processed immediately if the routine is signal safe. If the routine is not signal safe, then the routine is not asynchronously interrupted and processing of the signal is deferred to a time when the signal may be processed without possibly causing inconsistency of data.